The Bank Vole (<i>Clethrionomys glareolus</i>)—Small Animal Model for Hepacivirus Infection
Susanne Röhrs,
Lineke Begeman,
Beate K. Straub,
Mariana Boadella,
Dennis Hanke,
Kerstin Wernike,
Stephan Drewes,
Bernd Hoffmann,
Markus Keller,
Jan Felix Drexler,
Christian Drosten,
Dirk Höper,
Thijs Kuiken,
Rainer G. Ulrich,
Martin Beer
Affiliations
Susanne Röhrs
Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
Lineke Begeman
Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Centre, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Beate K. Straub
Institute of Pathology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
Mariana Boadella
Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Centre, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Dennis Hanke
Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
Kerstin Wernike
Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
Stephan Drewes
Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
Bernd Hoffmann
Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
Markus Keller
Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
Jan Felix Drexler
German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site, Bonn-Cologne, 53113 Bonn, Germany
Christian Drosten
German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site, Bonn-Cologne, 53113 Bonn, Germany
Dirk Höper
Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
Thijs Kuiken
Department of Viroscience, Erasmus University Medical Centre, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Rainer G. Ulrich
Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
Martin Beer
Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, 17493 Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
Many people worldwide suffer from hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, which is frequently persistent. The lack of efficient vaccines against HCV and the unavailability of or limited compliance with existing antiviral therapies is problematic for health care systems worldwide. Improved small animal models would support further hepacivirus research, including development of vaccines and novel antivirals. The recent discovery of several mammalian hepaciviruses may facilitate such research. In this study, we demonstrated that bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) were susceptible to bank vole-associated Hepacivirus F and Hepacivirus J strains, based on the detection of hepaciviral RNA in 52 of 55 experimentally inoculated voles. In contrast, interferon α/β receptor deficient C57/Bl6 mice were resistant to infection with both bank vole hepaciviruses (BvHVs). The highest viral genome loads in infected voles were detected in the liver, and viral RNA was visualized by in situ hybridization in hepatocytes, confirming a marked hepatotropism. Furthermore, liver lesions in infected voles resembled those of HCV infection in humans. In conclusion, infection with both BvHVs in their natural hosts shares striking similarities to HCV infection in humans and may represent promising small animal models for this important human disease.